Communities threaten festival boycott over N3.5m debt

THREE communities in Cross River State have threatened to boycott this year’s Leboku Festival holding this Thursday on account of the state government’s alleged failure to pay up a N3.5 million debt.

The affected communities are Mkpani, Ekori and Inyima, all in Yakurr Local Council of the state.

A source who craved anonymity communities said the money was part of the prizes won by the communities during the festival last year but not redeemed by the immediate past administration in the state..

He said: “ Mkpani Community which came first in that festival was to be given N2 million, Ekori which came second is being owed N1 million while third place Inyima is expecting N500,000.”

The International Leboku festival is a popular yam festival in the state which until 2006, was localised. But the state government, intent on exploring tourism opportunities, decided to take over its sponsorship in partnership with MTN.

Contacted, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Events Management, Kenneth Aklah, who acknowledged the boycott threat, said it was unfortunate that the previous administration had